AR - Rep. Harris rehomed his adopted daughter to man who sexually abused her

[tlcya]

Since last Friday, Rep. Justin Harris has leveled serious accusations against the Department of Human Services, saying he was threatened with abandonment charges if he and his wife returned their adopted daughters.

[...]

Harris says he was already working on safe haven legislation for adoptive parents to return kids with no problem.

“I met with the friends of the court; they said this is already law. I said what are you talking about? And they said this is already law. It's in the bill of rights you should have gotten as adopted parents. And we weren't given a bill of rights,” Harris said.

[...]

Harris would not answer the last question on if he thinks he should be legislating on matters related to DHS because he said would not take another question.

​

link

So his goodm personal friend at CPS never told him either? I cry foul foul foul on this whole whitewash.

 

[kaen]

It took all of three seconds to find resources available and contact information for adoptive parents in Arkansas.

http://www.nacac.org/adoptionsubsidy/stateprofiles/arkansas.html

Here is just one question with resources.

11. What mental health services are available?

Public mental health services for children in Arkansas are administered by the Department of Human Services through the Division of Behavioral Health. Specialized programs for children with serious emotional disturbance are available. Services may include interagency service coordination, individual and group outpatient psychological counseling, short-term crisis intervention, day treatment, wraparound services, and prescription drugs.

Inpatient Psychiatric Program services are publicly funded through Medicaid and cover inpatient psychiatric services for children under 21. Psychiatric treatment must be considered medically necessary and requires prior authorization before services can be received.

Alternative Community Services include case management, respite services, integrated supports, and consultation services. More information is available at http://www.state.ar.us/dhs/sgMH.html or by calling 877-227-0007.

Not all services may be available in all cases. Parents should contact their adoption assistance worker or medical assistance specialist for information regarding process, eligibility, availability, and duration of services.

 

[shadowraiths]

If the children (who were 1 & 3 years old when they were adopted by Justin Harris) were fine in the foster care and doing well in their current adopted home, but were allegedly exhibiting the same problems in the Harris & Francis homes, what does that tell you? Just sayin...

 

[Margo/Mom]

It took all of three seconds to find resources available and contact information for adoptive parents in Arkansas.

http://www.nacac.org/adoptionsubsidy/stateprofiles/arkansas.html

Here is just one question with resources.

11. What mental health services are available?

Public mental health services for children in Arkansas are administered by the Department of Human Services through the Division of Behavioral Health. Specialized programs for children with serious emotional disturbance are available. Services may include interagency service coordination, individual and group outpatient psychological counseling, short-term crisis intervention, day treatment, wraparound services, and prescription drugs.

Inpatient Psychiatric Program services are publicly funded through Medicaid and cover inpatient psychiatric services for children under 21. Psychiatric treatment must be considered medically necessary and requires prior authorization before services can be received.

Alternative Community Services include case management, respite services, integrated supports, and consultation services. More information is available at http://www.state.ar.us/dhs/sgMH.html or by calling 877-227-0007.

Not all services may be available in all cases. Parents should contact their adoption assistance worker or medical assistance specialist for information regarding process, eligibility, availability, and duration of services.

That's how it supposed to work, kaen. But there are a lot of cautions and limitations. While I don't see any indications of great effort on the part of the Harrises to locate resources, NACAC is better poised than many to quote chapter and verse regarding the difficulty of accessing services. Psych care for children and teens is in short supply for any price. And some of the best don't wish to bother with Medicaid billing. Some agencies balk at approving respite--saying services must be for the child. In my state the matching state dollars were severely limited by a legislature thinking that adoptive families were getting too much.

I don't want to defend Harris, because I find him more and more dispicable. But neither do I want to foster an illusion that needed services are readily available for the asking.

 

[kaen]

"And they said this is already law. It's in the bill of rights you should have gotten as adopted parents. And we weren't given a bill of rights,” Harris said."

Does anyone know what and where this is?

 

[shadowraiths]

State Representative Justin Harris says he re-homed his adopted daughters a second time after giving them away to Eric Francis.

[...]

Missing from this picture appears to be any state officials' involvement though a lawyer for the director of the human services department's Division of Children and Family Services, Cecile Blucker, confirmed that the director was aware of the second re-homing and didn't report it to other authorities.

[...]

In the meantime, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he has changed Department of Human Services' policies to prohibit any re-homing of state-supervised children after adoption and to give additional services and support for adoptive families that encounter behavioral problems.​

link

 

[OneLove]

Nothing in this case has anything to do with being a good Christian.

JMO

Justin Harris refused to accept the trained and EXPERIENCED professionals that knew and TOLD him his family was not a good placement because he felt his being a "good Christian" and having God to call on made his family a better alternative than a more appropriate placement for the girls.

Guess he was wrong. It appears God didn't do what Justin was counting on.

Wish he would admit it. I'm guessing hypocrisy is too deeply ingrained for that.

 

[kaen]

That's how it supposed to work, kaen. But there are a lot of cautions and limitations. While I don't see any indications of great effort on the part of the Harrises to locate resources, NACAC is better poised than many to quote chapter and verse regarding the difficulty of accessing services. Psych care for children and teens is in short supply for any price. And some of the best don't wish to bother with Medicaid billing. Some agencies balk at approving respite--saying services must be for the child. In my state the matching state dollars were severely limited by a legislature thinking that adoptive families were getting too much.

I don't want to defend Harris, because I find him more and more dispicable. But neither do I want to foster an illusion that needed services are readily available for the asking.

I agree that all is not easy but is doable and part of the commitment of parenting. If one of these kids were dx'ed with cancer, should they be given back? Would they dump their bio kids? No, right. You make it work and tackle it. The Harris family has not said that they exhausted every resource. In six months, I am dubious that they even used some of the resources readily available. I don't have facts to back that up though. But, if the reports are true that they pushed this thing through, then it is not a surprise that the parenting plan lasted six months because they liked the idea of saving these kids and never made a plan for it.

NACAC has always been a ready resource and has not indicated to me that resources are difficult to attain. I recognize the cost of good psych and services care.

I just did my taxes and I can say that our family paid more than 20k out of pocket for services for two kids last year. It inhibits savings, retirement, college funds, tithing, vacations and many extras.

 

[MyBelle]

State Representative Justin Harris says he re-homed his adopted daughters a second time after giving them away to Eric Francis.

[...]

Missing from this picture appears to be any state officials' involvement though a lawyer for the director of the human services department's Division of Children and Family Services, Cecile Blucker, confirmed that the director was aware of the second re-homing and didn't report it to other authorities.

[...]

In the meantime, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he has changed Department of Human Services' policies to prohibit any re-homing of state-supervised children after adoption and to give additional services and support for adoptive families that encounter behavioral problems.​

link

well, well. The Director has her own lawyer now. I hope they throw serious charges at her and Harris and make sure they stick. Conspiracy to commit fraud is a place to start.

JMO

 

[MyBelle]

I agree that all is not easy but is doable and part of the commitment of parenting. If one of these kids were dx'ed with cancer, should they be given back? Would they dump their bio kids? No, right. You make it work and tackle it. The Harris family has not said that they exhausted every resource. In six months, I am dubious that they even used some of the resources readily available. I don't have facts to back that up though. But, if the reports are true that they pushed this thing through, then it is not a surprise that the parenting plan lasted six months because they liked the idea of saving these kids and never made a plan for it.

NACAC has always been a ready resource and has not indicated to me that resources are difficult to attain. I recognize the cost of good psych and services care.

I just did my taxes and I can say that our family paid more than 20k out of pocket for services for two kids last year. It inhibits savings, retirement, college funds, tithing, vacations and many extras.

BBM. Absolutely true whether the child is biological or adopted. There is no shortage of services. Harris didn't adopt the children out of any act of compassion and care, he obviously adopted them for the revenue stream. Every time he opens his mouth, his aura of creepiness expands.

JMO

 

[shadowraiths]

This story will refer to the three girls taken in by the Harrises by pseudonyms: We will call the oldest sister Jeannette, the middle sister Mary and the youngest sister Annie. When they began living with the Harrises in 2012, Jeannette was around 6, Mary was 4 and Annie was around 2.

[...]

Chelsey Goldsborough, who regularly babysat for the Harrises, said Mary was kept isolated from Annie and from the rest of the family. She was often confined for hours to her room, where she was monitored by a video camera. The reason: The Harrises believed the girls were possessed by demons and could communicate telepathically, Goldsborough said. Harris and his wife once hired specialists to perform an "exorcism" on the two sisters while she waited outside the house with the boys, she said.

[...]

According to Goldsborough, the two girls were kept in separate rooms that were outfitted with locks, alarms and video cameras. They were not allowed to be around each other because of the Harrises' belief in demonic possession and telepathy, she said.

[...]

Goldsborough said the "exorcism" was performed by specialists from Alabama who came to the house to orchestrate the event. Other sources confirmed to the Times that Marsha Harris told them at least one "exorcism" was performed on the girls.

[...]

However, a source familiar with the workings of state-level DHS informed the Times that Blucker supposedly remarked in 2012 that "Harris threatened to hold up the budget for the division if he didn't get to adopt those girls."​

link

 

[believe09]

If the children (who were 1 & 3 years old when they were adopted by Justin Harris) were fine in the foster care and doing well in their current adopted home, but were allegedly exhibiting the same problems in the Harris & Francis homes, what does that tell you? Just sayin...

The aspect of the case that is the most chilling to me was his claim regarding their behaviors when they were adopted into his home. Based on his own timeline, clearly something changed and it wasnt for the better. There is no discussion regarding the substantial period of time prior to his adopting them. Not that I can remember reading. There is nothing I recall reading that indicated these girls were behavior problems prior to his adoption of them. And yet the minute the door was closed things escalated to a point that after he parented them for 6 months they had to be given away.

It is chilling to me. We can see why the 6 year old was revictimized by Francis...she was an easy target. I hope every record is being analyzed and re analyzed to see if something was missed. This is just a gut reaction, but we have seen a predator defensively position a child/victim as being untrustworthy because of mental illness. IE: incapable of truth telling.

 

[LaLaw2000]

OMG, shadowraiths! This just gets worse and worse!

Demon exorcism? Locking a poor little child in her room with video cameras? Taking her toys away? A troubled child will often have a favorite toy or stuffed animal that comforts them and they can pour their love out on. To take even that away from her is nothing short of cruelty and torture, IMO.

These girls have 'mental problems' (as is stated in the article) through no fault of their own. They were not born with those problems; the problems were inflicted upon them by their biological parents and the others who abused them. GB these girls. My heart hurts for them.

Harris needs to resign immediately! It is a shame both he and his wife are not up on abuse charges.

I hope the petition works. I signed it and also left a comment. I hope Harris and his wife read every single comment written!

MOO

ETA: Where is the justice for these little girls? Why isn't the Harris couple prosecuted as the other abusers were????

*I have no idea where the thumbs down icon came from! I didn't use it!

 

[believe09]

Wonder if DHS has an open and active case regarding the Harris bio boys even as we speak...just imagine how twisted their upbringing has been. I dont like the direction this is headed in.

 

[LaLaw2000]

Wonder if DHS has an open and active case regarding the Harris bio boys even as we speak...just imagine how twisted their upbringing has been. I dont like the direction this is headed in.

I don't like it either, believe09!

It really would not surprise me if there is a real thorough look at the boys and the home. In fact, there really needs to be.

 

[daisy7]

Wow, just wow!! Now we know why the girls' behavior changed so drastically at the Harris home. How is JH still in office??!! Wonder how the PR firm/JH will respond to this new info??

This is way worse than I think anyone suspected. Those poor girls

 

[K_Z]

http://m.arktimes.com/arkansas/cast...applied-pressure-to-adopt/Content?oid=3725371

Demon exorcism? Of a toddler and preschooler? And these are educated, literate adults?? This was their "plan" for handling the girls' emotional problems from the abusive situation they experienced?? What's next-- naked backyard human sacrifice in the moonlight?

The "child development specialist" and his wife thought a really, really good way to handle emotional problems in a preschooler was a demon exorcism? And they didn't at all consider that a demon exorcism in and of itself might be heaping MORE trauma onto these little girls?? No wonder the adoptive family wants no contact with the Harris'.

So, the demon exorcism didn't "work", so off to re-home we go?

A preschooler confined to her room with toys removed and remote video camera observation?

Can this get any more disturbing?? And this man is an elected legislator??

He needs to resign NOW, today, IMO.

Immediately, aspects of this case remind me of that of murdered 4 year old Andrew Burd in Texas. His mother, Hannah Overton, was convicted of his murder and serving a life sentence, but recently was granted a new trial. Andrew was a "foster to adopt" 4 year old, and they already had 5 young bio kids at home. Evangelical Christian family (HO's father, a pastor, was convicted of brutally murdering a 16 year old, and her grandfather was the Heaven's Gate cult leader.) Andrew had numerous serious emotional problems. He was confined to his room often, toys removed, video camera in place. At the time of his death he was sleeping on bare plywood.

 

[BeginnersLuck]

OMG! I had a feeling that the statements about them locking themselves and their sons in their room at night, was going to lead to some kind of "belief" that the girl or girls were possessed by the devil. It was his jittery way of talking about how "bad" it was. I could tell he wasn't going to tell what they really thought, because others basically would not "understand" their views.

He needs to go now! He has no business being in office and certainly no business owning a school or daycare (whatever it is)!

Children that have been traumatized by evil people, certainly don't need more trauma by being told they are possessed. They need love and intensive therapy. This treatment only compounded things and made them worse.

How much contact did this pedophile have with these girls even before they were handed over to him? This pedophiles wife even knew he viewed child .

When are people going to stop being blinded by extremism that leads to harm? Part of the extremism is putting on a outward appearance of perfection and the false perception that they want to do what is best for others, when it is actually a self centered approach to implement change forcing their view or beliefs on the rest of society.

Is CPS perfect? By all means no it is not. There is and always will be need for improvement and funding to see that these children get proper care and follow-up. IMO, JH wanted to bypass the entire system because he in his mind, he knew what these children really needed (according to his beliefs). It didn't work well at all. Sickening...just sickening.

 

[daisy7]

What is the process to remove a state rep from office? Does the governor have to do it? Typically, they resign over a scandal such as this, but I don't think JH will since he still thinks he did nothing wrong.

Has anyone come out in support of the Harris family? Also, what specific religion do they practice. Gonna look up their church.

 

[LaLaw2000]

There was an online petition mentioned in one of the news articles, IIRC. In fact, I signed it. It has to be acknowledged in some way when they have 5,000 signatures I think. They do have the needed signatures now. I would think it would go to the governor of Arkansas. Harris needs to resign.

I haven't heard of anyone coming out in support of Harris and his wife. They may have, but they would look awfully foolish after the info concerning exorcism came out, IMO.

I know nothing of the school except that it does receive funding which it clearly should not.

This guy is a user and abuser of the system as well as those children, IMO.